Contra Costa County Biography
HON. HENRY HOOK
Transcribed by Kathy Sedler
This file is part of the California Genealogy & History Archives
http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~cagha/index.htm
One of the best known officials of the United States Custom House of
San Francisco, is Assemblyman Henry Hook, of Martinez, Contra Costa County, who
is cashier. He, like many other prominent citizens of this State, came to
California with his parents in early times, his family arriving here in 1850,
coming direct from Arrow Rock, Missouri, where young Hook was born, October 1,
1848. Almost immediately upon the family�s arrival in this city they departed
for the gold fields of Hangtown, now Placerville, where they remained till 1851,
when they moved to Sacramento and engaged in the merchandise business, and
continuing in that line until the fall of the following year, when they moved to
this city, and continued in the same line of business, locating on Jackson
street, where they carried on a very large business, until they were driven out
by the fires of 1852-�53. William Hook next turned his attention to the
building of a hotel to accommodate the State Legislature at Vallejo, but before
the completion of the hotel a change was made in the location of the State
capital, and the capitol building started here in Vallejo was never completed.
We next find the enterprising father of the subject of this sketch located in
the mercantile business at Martinez, Contra Costa County, going there in 1854,
where the family has since resided, the firm then being known as Agnew & Hook,
the former being the founder of the well-known dry-goods firm of Murphy & Grant,
of this city. Mr. Hook amassed a large fortune, and converted the same into
farms throughout Contra Costa County, giving his realty interests his whole
time. He gave up his mercantile pursuits, and died, near Martinez, in 1882.
Young Hook was given an excellent education, attending the public schools of
that county till 1865, when he entered the Benicia College, graduating in 1867.
Returning to his home, he engaged in farming one year. At the age
of twenty years he was appointed abstract clerk in the naval office of the
United States Custom House, remaining in that position until 1875, after which
he accepted the position of salesman in the carpet department in E. Hook�s
well-known store in Oakland. After ten years of continuous labor, he took a
trip over the United States, visiting every large city of the country, and was
the guest of President Hayes, at Columbus, Ohio, just before his election. He
commenced farming on the ranches he now owns, in Contra Costa, in 1877. In 1886
he was nominated for County Treasurer of Contra Costa County. Having made such
a thorough canvass when running for that office, and being energetic and active,
the Republicans of that county nominated him for the Assembly in 1888. He was
elected by a large majority. While a member of the State Legislature, Mr. Hook
filled several prominent positions on various committees. He was the father of
the agricultural bill that was passed by both houses, separating his county from
Alameda and San Francisco. He was also a strong advocate of, and was mainly
instrumental in having the appropriation bill of $10,000 passed for the location
of the United States Grange, thereby causing the first sitting of the United
States Grange in California; was also the main-stay and backer of the
Feeble-minded Home bill, which is now located at Hillgirth, Sonoma County. At
the solicitation of his many friends he was induced to accept the position which
he now fills � cashier of the United States Custom House. Since he has been
connected with the Custom House he has made many friends, who speak of him in
the highest terms.
In 1873 Mr. Hook married Miss Elizabeth A. Benningham, assistant
principal of the Oakland High School, and they have one child, born February 8,
1875, and named Elizabeth Benningham.
Memorial & Biographical History of Northern California, The Lewis Publishing
Co., 1891, pp 495-496